Nut-lock.



PATBNTED SEPT. 18, 1906.

W.'E. LOUDEN.

NUT LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1906,

co., WA sr-rmamu, D. c.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NUT-LOCK- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18, 1906.

Application filed. February 20, 1906.' Serial No. 302,024.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. LOUDEN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Lisbon, in the county ofColumbiana and State cross-section.

of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Nut- Lock, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to means for locking againstmovement the nuts employed in railroad-rail joints and the like.

The principal object is to provide a simple, novel, and effectivestructure which may be employed in connection with the ordinary railsand splice-bars or fish-plates, will effectively hold the nuts againstaccidental turning or loosening, and yet will permit the same to beremoved and replaced by workmen if it is found desirable or expedient.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the preferredembodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view, but showing thenuts in section. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the same.Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view, and Fig. 5 is a detailperspective view, of one of the nuts.

Similar reference-numerals designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

In the embodiment illustrated the rails, as usual, comprise abase-flange 6, a tread or head flange 7, and a connecting-web 8. Thefish-plates or splice-bars are designated 9, the same fitting againstthe opposite sides of the web and resting on the base-flange 6, butpreferably terminating short of the head 7. Through the fish-plates andweb are passed the usual bolts 10 each having a head 11 at one end and athreaded shank 12 at the other. On the threaded shanks are screwed nutscomprising outer heads 13, an ular in crosssection, and inner necks 14,also angular in The necks are considerably smaller than the heads andare arranged to abut against the outer face of the adjacent fish-plateor splice-bar, as shown.

For the purpose of holdingthe above-described nuts against accidentalrotation a locking-plate 15 is employed, having a series oflongitudinally-disposed keyhole-openings therethrough. Eachkeyhole-opening comprises an enlarged portion 16 and a contractedportion 17. The larger portions of the keyholes permit the passageoftheheads 13 of the nuts, while the smaller portions are too small topermit such passage,said smaller portions, however, snugly receiving thenecks 14 of the nuts, and when said necks are located therein they, andconsequently the nuts, are held against rotation. This, it is thought,will be apparent by reference to Fig. 2. The locking-plate terminatesshort of the lower portion of the fish-plate or splice-bar, but isprovided at its ends with outwardly-extending lugs 18, having theirouter portions projecting beyond the fish-plates and base flange, theprojecting portions being provided with openings 19. Holding-spikes 20,driven through the openings, are engaged in the ties beneath the same,and thus positively hold the locking-plate against longitudinalmovement.

It will be apparent that the rail-joint may be formed in the ordinarymanner, the only care necessary being that the necks of the nuts havecertain of their opposite flat faces disposed in horizontal relation.After the bolts have been properly tightened the locking-plate isapplied, the heads of the nuts being received through the enlargedportions thereof, after which the locking-plate is moved longitudinallyso that the necks 14 are received in the contracted portion 17 of theopenings. After being so placed the holding-spikes 20 are driven. Itwill be apparent that this structure constitutes an effective andpositive lock that prevents the accidental loosening of the nuts fromthejar and vibration of the passing trains. At the same time by removingthe spikes 20 and the locking-plate said nuts may be operated in theordinary manner, and none of the parts having been injured or defaced inany way they may be employed again Without difficulty.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, andmany advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art without further description, and it will beunderstood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, andminor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing fromthe spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a nut-lock, the combination with a rail and fish-plate, of aplurality of bolts passing through the rail and fish-plate, nutsthreaded on the bolts, said nuts comprising outer heads and innerangular necks of less cross-sectional area than the heads, a singlepiecelocking-plate that fits against the fishplate and has a series oflongitudinally-disposed keyhole-openings therein, the larger portions ofthe openings permitting the passage of the nut-heads, the smallerportions snugly receiving said necks to prevent the turning of the nutsand being of less area than the heads, and spaced outstanding lugscarried by the lower portions of the ends of the locking-plate, and eachhaving a holding spike-receiving opening, the lower edge of thelocking-plate between the lugs being disposed over the base-flange ofthe rail.

2. In a nut-lock, the combination with a rail comprising a head-flange,a base-flange, and a connecting-Web, of a fish-plate bearing against theWeb and having an outstanding lower portion that rests on thebase-flange, said fish-plate terminating short of the headflan'ge, boltspassing through the rail and fishplates, nuts threaded on the bolts,sa'id nuts comprising outer heads and inner angular necks of lesscross-sectional area than the heads, a locking-plate that engagesagainst the fish-plate and has its upper margin fitted over saidfish-plate and against the rail-web between the upper edge of thefish-plate and the head-flange of the rail, said locking-platefurthermore having a series of longitudinallydisposed keyholeopeningstherein, the large portions of the openings permitting the passage ofthe nut-heads, the smaller portions snugly receiving the nut-necks toprevent their turning and being of less area than the heads, saidlocking-plate having spaced outstanding lugs that extend over andproject beyond the outstanding portion of the fishplate, and meanspassing through the projecting portions of the lugs for securing theplate against longitudinal movement With respect to the nuts.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM E. LOUDEN.

Witnesses:

LODGE, RIDDLE, E. J. PIKE.

